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Best Video Conferencing Tools in 2026

Video calls and virtual meetings

57 tools evaluated · 10 top picks · Updated August 2026

Key Takeaways
  • Microsoft Teams is our #1 pick for video conferencing in 2026.
  • We analyzed 57 video conferencing tools to create this ranking.
  • 7 tools offer free plans, perfect for getting started.

Video conferencing as a category is largely solved technically — call quality, recording, and basic collaboration are commodified. The real differentiators now are integration with your team's primary work hub (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack), advanced features like AI meeting notes, and pricing for large all-hands or external calls.

7 top video conferencing tools compared

Starting price, average user rating, and our pick for each category.

ToolOur takeStarting priceRating
Microsoft Teams logo
Microsoft Teams
Best overall$4/mo4.4
Google Meet logo
Google Meet
Highest rated$14/mo4.5
Whereby logo
Whereby
Most reviewed$6.99/mo4.5
GoTo Meeting logo
GoTo Meeting
Solid pick$12/mo4.3
Cisco Webex logo
Cisco Webex
Solid pickFree + paid4.3
Zoom logo
Zoom
Solid pickFree + paid4.5
RingCentral logo
RingCentral
Solid pick$30/mo4.3

How the Top Video Conferencing Tools Compare

The video conferencing category is highly competitive in 2026, with Microsoft Teams and Google Meet both ranking among the top choices on Toolradar's assessment, followed closely by Whereby. The tight competition reflects how mature this market has become.

Pricing varies significantly among the top picks: Microsoft Teams (freemium (free tier available)), Google Meet (freemium (free tier available)), Whereby (freemium (free tier available)) offer free access, while GoTo Meeting requires a paid subscription. Teams on a budget should start with Microsoft Teams, which delivers strong value despite its free tier.

Computed from live tool ratings, review counts, and editorial scores.Editorial policy

Top Video Conferencing tools

01
Microsoft Teams logo

Unite chat, meetings, and files with Microsoft 365

Freemium4.4/517,741 ratings

Microsoft Teams is a collaboration platform combining chat, meetings, and file sharing. Deeply integrated with Microsoft 365 for documents and email. Channels organize team communication by topic. Video meetings with Together mode and background effects. Third-party apps extend functionality. Where Microsoft 365 users work together.

+Microsoft 365 integration
+Full collaboration suite
+Free tier
Can be overwhelming
Requires Microsoft ecosystem

Value 80/100. Microsoft Teams is the most cost-effective business communication platform when bundled with Microsoft 365.

Watch out: Teams Premium add-on ($10/user/mo) required for AI features like intelligent recap and custom branding

02
Google Meet logo

Seamless video meetings for Google Workspace users

Freemium4.5/515,986 ratings

Google Meet is Google's video conferencing platform integrated with Google Workspace. Join meetings from Calendar or Gmail with one click. Live captions transcribe in real-time. Screen sharing and virtual backgrounds included. Enterprise features include recording and breakout rooms. Video meetings that work seamlessly for Google users.

+Free for personal use
+Google integration
+Simple interface
Limited features on free
Requires Google account

Value 85/100. Google Meet's pricing is fair, especially with a robust free tier and competitive paid options.

Watch out: Storage limits can be restrictive for larger teams.

03
Whereby logo

Easy video meetings without downloads

Freemium4.5/533,615 ratings

Whereby provides video meetings in browser. No downloads, just meetings-video calls with minimal friction. The browser-native approach is convenient. The simplicity is the feature. The embedding works. Teams wanting frictionless video meetings use Whereby for browser-based calls.

+No download needed
+Simple to use
+Good for embedded
Limited features vs Zoom
Participant limits

Value 85/100. Whereby's pricing is fair, offering a generous Free tier for basic needs.

Watch out: Participant limits per tier can be restrictive.

04
GoTo Meeting logo

Video conferencing for businesses

Paid4.3/528,587 ratings

GoTo Meeting provides video conferencing for businesses. Schedule meetings, share screens, record sessions-reliable video calls without the fuss. The platform is mature and stable. Enterprise features exist. The experience is predictable. Organizations wanting straightforward video conferencing choose GoTo Meeting for reliable business meetings.

+Reliable video conferencing
+Good for business
+Screen sharing
Expensive
UI dated

Value 78/100. GoTo Meeting's pricing is competitive, especially the Professional tier at $12/month for 150 participants, which offers strong value.

Watch out: Prices are for annual billing only

05
Cisco Webex logo

Video conferencing & collaboration

Freemium4.3/521,863 ratings

Cisco Webex is an enterprise collaboration platform for video meetings, messaging, and calling. HD video and AI features like noise removal and transcription. Hardware integration with Webex devices for meeting rooms. Security and compliance for regulated industries. Webex Suite combines meetings, messaging, and calling. Enterprise-grade collaboration from a company enterprises trust.

+Enterprise security
+Reliable quality
+Full suite
Complex pricing
Less intuitive

Value 75/100. Webex's pricing is generous for small teams with its robust Free tier offering unlimited meetings up to 40 minutes and 100 attendees.

Watch out: Enterprise tier requires custom quote

06
Zoom logo

Connect, communicate, and collaborate with HD video meetings

Freemium4.5/511,000 ratings

Zoom is a video communications platform that brings people together to connect, communicate, and collaborate. HD video meetings with up to 1,000 participants. Webinars reach large audiences with interactive features. Zoom Phone provides cloud calling. Zoom Rooms brings video to conference rooms. The platform that became synonymous with video meetings.

Zoom screenshot
+Reliable video quality
+Easy to use
+Good for large meetings
Free plan has time limits
Security concerns historically

Value 70/100. Zoom Pro at $13.33/user/month (annual) remains the baseline for professional video conferencing, but the real cost is in add-ons.

Watch out: Cloud recording storage fills fast: Pro and Business include only 10GB (about 10-15 hours of recordings). Additional storage costs $10/month for 30GB or $40/month for 25GB depending on the add-on tier. Enterprise gets unlimited recording storage, the only plan where this is not an issue.

07
RingCentral logo

Cloud communications and contact center solutions

Paid4.3/53,845 ratings

RingCentral is a cloud-based business communications platform offering VoIP phone systems, video conferencing, messaging, and contact center solutions for businesses of all sizes.

RingCentral screenshot
+All-in-one solution
+Reliable
+Good integrations
Can be expensive
Complex setup

Value 75/100. RingCentral's pricing, starting at $30/month for Core, is competitive for its feature set, but can quickly become expensive for advanced needs.

Watch out: Additional phone numbers can add up

08
Livestorm logo

Video conferencing software for webinars and virtual meetings, designed for engagement and efficiency.

Freemium4.5/52,087 ratings

Livestorm is an all-in-one video platform designed for hosting dynamic online events, including webinars, virtual meetings, product demonstrations, and training sessions. It caters to marketing teams, sales professionals, HR, and internal communications, offering intuitive functionalities to run any event in minutes. The platform emphasizes brand consistency with customizable templates and permissions, and improves efficiency through seamless data transfer with CRMs. Livestorm provides a comprehensive suite of features covering the entire event lifecycle, from registration and promotion to live engagement and post-event analytics. Key functionalities include customizable registration pages, email cadences, marketing automation integrations, interactive polls, Q&A, breakout rooms, and advanced reporting. It also incorporates AI-powered features for content repurposing, captions in multiple languages, transcripts, and tools for generating webinar titles, outlines, and video scripts. Livestorm is EU-hosted, ISO 27001 certified, and GDPR compliant, ensuring data security and privacy.

+Webinar platform
+Good automation
+Registration pages
Expensive
Attendee limits

Value 65/100. Livestorm's pricing is on the higher side compared to some market alternatives, especially with the Pro tier starting at $99/month for 500 attendees.

Watch out: Higher attendee limits require tier upgrades

09
Discord logo

Your place to talk and hang out

Freemium4.4/51,730 ratings

Discord is a communication platform for communities with text, voice, and video chat, originally designed for gamers but now used by diverse communities worldwide.

+Completely free for most features
+Excellent voice quality and low latency
+Highly customizable with bots
Can be overwhelming for new users
Nitro subscription needed for some features

Value 90/100. Discord is genuinely free for core communication, unlimited messages, voice channels, video calls up to 25 people, and communities of any size.

Watch out: Server Boosts ($4.99/boost, $3.49 for Nitro subscribers) are needed for server-level perks like higher audio quality and more emoji slots, Level 2 needs 7 boosts ($24-$35/mo)

10
GoTo Connect logo

Cloud phone and meeting system

Paid4.3/51,604 ratings

GoTo Connect is a unified communications solution with cloud phone, video meetings, and messaging. Features intelligent call routing and integrations.

+All-in-one platform for phone system, customer experience (CX), and contact center, reducing the need for multiple vendors.
+AI-powered features like AI Receptionist, call summaries, sentiment analysis, and topic monitoring enhance productivity and customer interactions.
+Award-winning cloud-based phone system with softphone capabilities and SMS, suitable for office, home, or mobile use.
While integrations are mentioned, a comprehensive list of supported third-party applications is not readily available.

Value 75/100. GoTo Connect's pricing, starting at $26/month for 'Phone System' and escalating to $80/month for 'Contact Center', appears competitive for businesses needing a comprehensive communication solution.

Watch out: Potential extra charges for international calls

Why these video conferencing tools didn't make our top 10.

We evaluated 57 video conferencing tools and these 20 ranked 11 through 30. They're solid options that fell short on one or two axes (review depth, pricing transparency, feature parity), but worth a look if the leaders don't fit your stack or budget.

Popular video conferencing comparisons

See how the leading video conferencing tools stack up head-to-head.

Video Conferencing pricing, compared

Real plans and the hidden costs for each tool.

Browse all video conferencing tools

57 tools
BigBlueButton logo
BigBlueButton
A purpose-built virtual classroom empowering teachers and learners with engaging tools.
free· Web
Teamflow logo
Teamflow
Recreate the in-office experience for remote teams with a virtual office and collaborative meeting tools.
freemium· Web
MeetFox logo
MeetFox
Simplify scheduling, video calls, and payments for client meetings.
freemium
Univid logo
Univid
The fast and engaging webinar platform for beautiful, branded, and high-converting online events.
freemium· Web
Tandem logo
Tandem
Virtual office for remote teams
freemium· Web
Phone.com logo
Phone.com
Seamlessly manage business calls, texts, video, and voicemail from any device, anywhere.
paid· Web, iOS, Android
Acquire logo
Acquire
Unified customer service platform with video chat
paid· Web
Wonder logo
Wonder
Connect and collaborate in a dynamic, interactive virtual space.
freemium
Butter logo
Butter
Video conferencing for workshops
freemium
Zencastr logo
Zencastr
Podcast recording in studio quality
freemium· Web, iOS, Android
Superpeer logo
Superpeer
Connect with your audience through live video, 1:1 calls, and community features.
freemium
Vowel logo
Vowel
AI-powered video conferencing that transcribes, summarizes, and searches your meetings
freemium
BlueJeans logo
BlueJeans
Secure and reliable video conferencing for seamless collaboration and large-scale events.
freemium
Focusmate logo
Focusmate
Virtual body doubling for focused productivity and getting anything done, together.
freemium· Web
Edge Light for video calls logo
Edge Light for video calls
Virtual ring light browser extension to enhance your appearance in video calls.
freemium· Chrome, macOS, Windows, Linux
Saydi logo
Saydi
Real-time AI voice translation for meetings and events, bridging language barriers instantly.
paid· Web, Chrome, iOS, Android
CapslockMute logo
CapslockMute
Mute Zoom, Tandem, and Google Meet with a single press of the Caps Lock key on macOS.
free· macOS
Viberia logo
Viberia
Connect with friends and family through secure, high-quality calls and messages.
freemium
Pop logo
Pop
Connect with friends and family through spontaneous, live video conversations.
freemium
Mailbox.org logo
Mailbox.org
Secure and private email, cloud storage, video conferencing, and office suite for individuals and businesses.
paid· Web
Around logo
Around
Video calls for in-the-moment collaboration and pair work
freemium
Kumospace logo
Kumospace
The #1 virtual office software for remote and hybrid teams to meet, motivate, and manage.
freemium· Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Socio logo
Socio
The comprehensive platform for seamless in-person, virtual, and hybrid event management.
paid· Web, iOS, Android
Jami logo
Jami
Share freely and privately with end-to-end encrypted communication software.
free· Linux, Android, Windows, macOS, iOS

Showing the top 24 of 57. Filter to narrow down.

In-depth: why these tools made the cut

Microsoft Teams logo

Teams won the enterprise video market by being bundled with Microsoft 365. For organizations already paying for E3 or E5 licenses, switching to a paid Zoom or Meet adds cost for no clear benefit. The integration with Outlook calendars, SharePoint files, and Entra ID identity is genuinely deep — better than any third-party tool can achieve.

The weakness is Teams' breadth: it tries to be chat, meetings, files, calling, and more, and the UI shows it. Pure-play tools (Slack for chat, Zoom for external calls) often feel snappier for their specific use case. For internal-only meetings inside a Microsoft shop, Teams is the rational default; for external-heavy use, many teams still run Zoom alongside.

Whereby logo

Whereby's pitch is 'no downloads, no accounts, just a link your guest clicks.' For consulting calls, support sessions, candidate interviews, and any meeting where the other side isn't on your video tool, that simplicity is a real advantage. The browser-only model also reduces the support burden on guests.

The trade-off is depth. Whereby doesn't have the breadcast features of Zoom Events, the AI notes of Fathom, or the deep integration of Teams. It's a focused tool for friction-free guest meetings. Many teams run Whereby for external sales calls and Teams/Meet for everything internal.

GoTo Meeting logo

GoTo Meeting (LogMeIn) targets the SMB band that doesn't have an enterprise IT contract and finds Zoom's pricing or feature set excessive. The product is competent — reliable calls, decent recording, simple admin — at a price point that undercuts Zoom Business. The integrations are lighter but adequate for SMBs.

GoTo Meeting isn't widely adopted in the way Zoom or Teams is, so external guests often have to install something new. It's a reasonable choice for a 20-person company that wants reliable internal video without paying enterprise pricing, but the network effect of Zoom keeps it from being a default.

Cisco Webex logo

Cisco Webex is the legacy enterprise video tool that pre-dates Zoom by a decade. In large enterprises with existing Cisco hardware and call manager infrastructure, Webex remains the path of least resistance — the integration with on-prem PBX, call recording compliance, and Cisco's video room hardware is unmatched.

For most modern companies (especially those without Cisco hardware), Webex feels dated next to Zoom or Teams. Webex's market share is shrinking outside the enterprise base. Pick Webex if you're already in the Cisco ecosystem; otherwise, Teams or Zoom will get you to value faster.

How to choose video conferencing software

Most companies don't deliberately pick a video tool — they default to whatever ships with their email/calendar suite, then layer additional tools for specific use cases (sales calls, webinars, customer support). Make the default deliberate, and add specialists only where they earn their keep.

  1. Default to your suite

    Microsoft 365 shops get Teams included; Google Workspace shops get Meet. Both are good enough for the vast majority of internal meetings, and the integration with the suite (calendar invites, file sharing, identity) is meaningfully better than a third-party tool. Start there.

  2. Identify use cases that justify a second tool

    External-heavy sales/CS calls (Zoom remains the path of least resistance for non-employees), webinars (Livestorm, Demio, Zoom Webinar), large all-hands (Zoom Events, Hopin), or AI meeting notes (Fathom, Otter, Fellow) are where teams add specialized tools. Don't add a second video tool 'just in case' — the cost is calendar fragmentation across reps.

  3. Audit hardware compatibility

    If your offices have conference room hardware (Logitech Tap, Poly, etc.), check that the firmware and certifications match your video tool. Teams Rooms requires specific certified hardware; Zoom Rooms requires its own. Mixed environments are painful; standardize before deploying.

  4. Plan for recording and storage costs

    Recordings accumulate fast. Teams stores them in OneDrive (counts against your tenant storage), Zoom has its own cloud (paid tiers), Google Meet stores in Drive. For sales teams recording every call, separate transcription tools (Gong, Chorus, Fathom) often replace the native recording with their own searchable index.

Honorable mentions

Tools that didn't crack the headline list but deserve a look depending on what you optimize for.

  • Discord logo
    DiscordBest for community-driven or casual video

    Discord's voice/video channels are excellent for community-driven use cases (Twitch communities, dev open-source projects, study groups). Not a business video tool, but worth mentioning because the search query lands here for people building communities.

  • Krisp logo
    KrispBest AI noise suppression overlay

    Krisp isn't a video tool — it's a noise-cancellation and meeting-notes overlay that sits on top of Zoom, Teams, or any other call. If background noise or meeting summaries are pain points, layer Krisp on your existing tool rather than switching.

  • Livestorm logo
    LivestormBest for webinars and structured events

    Livestorm's specialty is repeated webinars and lead-gen events with registration pages, automated follow-up emails, and analytics. Use Livestorm for marketing webinars; use Teams/Zoom for one-off meetings.

Best Video Conferencing for

How we ranked these video conferencing tools

We rank by real-world signal: verified user ratings aggregated from G2, Capterra, and our own community, the volume and recency of media coverage, and hands-on editorial review for the tools we cover in depth. Pricing is re-checked and the ranking refreshed monthly. We do not sell placement in this list.

Tools reviewed
57
With free tier
68%
Last updated
August 2026

Toolradar Research

The data behind video conferencing

First-party analyses built from our full catalog, methodology published.

All Toolradar research

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best video conferencing tool in 2026?

Based on our analysis of 57 video conferencing tools, Microsoft Teams ranks #1 on Toolradar's assessment. The runners-up are Google Meet, Whereby, GoTo Meeting. Our rankings are based on features, pricing, user reviews, and real-world testing across 57 products.

What are the top 3 video conferencing tools?

The top 3 video conferencing tools in 2026, ranked by Toolradar, are: 1) Microsoft Teams, Unite chat, meetings, and files with Microsoft 365. 2) Google Meet, Seamless video meetings for Google Workspace users. 3) Whereby, Easy video meetings without downloads.

Are there free video conferencing tools?

Yes: 7 out of our top 10 video conferencing tools offer free or freemium plans. The top free options are Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Whereby. Free plans typically include core features with usage limits.

How do I choose the right video conferencing tool?

Start by defining your team size, budget, and must-have features. Microsoft Teams is the top-rated option overall. For budget-conscious teams, Microsoft Teams offers strong value. Compare all 57 options side-by-side on Toolradar, where we evaluate features, pricing, ease of use, and user reviews.

For video conferencing vendors

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